Mulligan shines in ‘An Education’

October 8, 2010 - Bennet Goldstein

I tend to be a little behind on things at times which is why I’m finally getting around to watching some of last year’s movies. Recently I rented “An Education” starring Peter Sarsgaard as a 30-something suitor of a 16-year-old high school girl (Carey Mulligan) set in the 1960s in London. Before you get creeped out let’s just say their relationship does not feel creepy in the movie. The man not only gets this girl to fall for him but he also is very convincing to her parents to let her go away with him. In other words, he’s a smooth talker. I’ll leave the plot at that but I have to say Mulligan’s performance in the film was outstanding. She was up for the Emmy for best actress, which ended up being awarded to Sandra Bullock for her great performance in “The Blind Side.” Mulligan delivered in her first big starring role of many to come in her career and I thought the story kept me interested throughout.